C3. A full timetable

present simple passive / present simple for timetables

Josef was a tourist on holiday in London. He wanted to visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and all the other famous tourist attractions. He arrived at the hotel and went to the front desk to check in.
   ‘Good evening, sir,’ said the woman at the reception desk, ‘How may I help you?’
   ‘Good evening. I have a reservation for three nights full board. I booked online. The name is Josef Kurstall.’
   ‘Ah, yes, Mr. Kurstall. I have your booking here on the computer. Welcome to our hotel. Now first let me explain the hotel restaurant meal times. Breakfast is served from seven until eleven o’clock in the morning. Lunch is served from midday to three in the afternoon and dinner is served from six o’clock until nine.’
   The receptionist noticed that Josef looked worried about something.
   ‘I hope there is no difficulty about that, sir. Is there a problem?’ she asked.
   ‘Well, it seems like a nice hotel, and I’m sure the food is very good,’ said Josef, frowning, ‘But when am I going to have time to go sightseeing?’

Grammar: present simple for timetables

It’s possible to use the present simple to refer to the future when you are talking about timetables and programmes of events.

The train leaves at 11.28 tomorrow morning.
The race begins in ten minutes.

You can also use the present simple to talk about future arrangements when the plans are fixed in a timetable.

When do you start your new course?
I finish work at seven o’clock tonight.

The present continuous form has a different use for future meaning. The present continuous is used for personal plans written in a diary. Compare these sentences.

What time does the plane arrive tomorrow? ( a fixed timetable)
What time is she arriving tomorrow? ( a diary arrangement)
The play starts at eight o’clock. ( a fixed timetable)
We’re going to the theatre this evening. ( a diary arrangement)

Choose the better form to complete these sentences, present simple or present continuous.

1. A. What time does the film start?
     B. What time is the film starting?

2. A. The museum opens at nine and closes at midday.
     B. The museum is opening at nine at is closing at midday.

3. A. I visit the dentist next Tuesday afternoon.
     B. I’m visiting the dentist next Tuesday afternoon.

4. A. The exam ends in half an hour.
     B. The exam is ending in half an hour.

5. A. Where do you meet Anna tonight?
     B. Where are you meeting Anna tonight?

6. A. What time does the sun go down this evening?
     B. What time is the sun going down this evening?

7. A. Do you do anything interesting this weekend?
     B. Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?

8. A. We serve breakfast from seven until nine.
     B. We are serving breakfast from seven until nine.

Vocabulary exercises

Match the broken sentences.

1. After we check…	A. board, half board or breakfast only?
2. Would you prefer full…	B. booking service.
3. Ask at the front…	C. attractions near to the hotel.
4. The hotel has an online…	D. in at reception, we went to look at our rooms.
5. There are lots of tourist…	E. desk if you need anything.

Choose a verb to complete these sentences.

serve look have go visit

6. My name is Harris and I _______ a reservation.
7. We want to _______ sightseeing this afternoon.
8. We’re going to _______ lots of famous places.
9. What time do you _______ breakfast in this hotel?
10. You _______ worried. What’s wrong?

QUESTION: What two things do you never eat for breakfast?
ANSWER: Lunch and dinner.

ANSWERS